Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.4085/1062-6050-0255.25

Publication Title

Journal of Athletic Training

Volume

Advance online publication

Pages

33 pp.

Abstract

Context:

The 2024 NATA Position Statement provides updated recommendations for EAP adoption. Past research on the 2002 statement showed limited adoption by ATs. Assessing current adoption across practice settings offers a clearer picture of the EAP implementation landscape.

Objectives:

To examine ATs' adoption of new EAP best-practice recommendations across practice settings.

Design:

Cross-Sectional study.

Setting:

Online questionnaire.

Patients or Other Participants:

Clinically active ATs (n=614) working in any practice setting (Youth, Secondary School, Division 1 Power 4, Collegiate athletics – Not Power 4, Non-Major Professional Sports, Professional Sports, Non-Sideline).

Main Outcome Measures:

Prevalence of an EAP, adoption of recommendations, and emergency equipment across practice settings. Median values are reported for aggregate data.

Results:

Most ATs (n=582, 94.8%) reported having an EAP, with the highest adoption among ATs practicing in the secondary school setting (n=369, 97.6%) and the lowest adoption among those working in non-sideline settings (n=27, 84.4%). On average, ATs adopted 16±7.5 (median: 18) out of 26 recommendations, with the lowest level of adoption among ATs working in the youth sports (9.5±7.9; median: 7) and the highest level of adoption among those working in the professional sports (18±9; median: 22). Bleeding control materials (n=483, 78.7%; range: 73.6%-94.7%) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation masks (n=476, 77.5%; range: 67.8%-94.7%) were the most prevalent emergency equipment available. Bronchodilators (n=108, 17.6%; range: 3.8%-47.4%) and supplemental oxygen (n=124, 20.2%; range: 3.8%-73.7%) were the least prevalent available equipment.

Conclusions:

Most ATs reported having an EAP, but fewer than 15% adopted all 2024 recommendations. These findings provide a baseline to assess setting-specific adoption and guide resource development. Emergency equipment availability varied, highlighting the need for ATs to ensure access to setting-specific emergency tools.

Rights

© 2025 National Athletic Trainers' Association. All rights reserved.

Included with the kind written permission of the copyright holder.

Original Publication Citation

Scarneo-Miller, S. E., Stearns, R. L., Eason, C. M., Pike Lacy, A. M., Lopez, R. M., Winkelmann, Z. K., Hirschhorn, R. M., & Yeargin, S. W. (2025). Emergency action plan adoption across athletic training practice settings. Journal of Athletic Training. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0255.25

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